Best digital pianos for beginners

Start here: Yamaha P45B. Yamaha's entry-level 88-key board is the safest first piano — graded hammer action that feels close to an acoustic, a sound beginners can live with for years, and a brand with service and resale behind it. Add a stand and pedal later.

Who the others suit:

• Kawai ES120 — the most piano-like action and tone here; pick it if you'll practise seriously and want a nicer feel from day one.
• Yamaha P-143B — the newer, slimmer Yamaha with onboard speakers and a headphone jack; good if you want to play quietly at night.
• Donner DEP-20 / AODSK B-85 — budget full-weighted options if you want 88 keys and hammer feel without spending much; expect a plainer sound and fewer refinements.
• Alesis Recital — semi-weighted, so lighter and easier on young hands, but less like a real piano.
• Kawai CN201 — a furniture-style cabinet piano for someone who wants it to look like the real thing in a living room.

Whatever you choose, get 88 weighted keys, a sustain pedal and headphones — those matter more than extra voices or rhythms.